The US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is a federal agency that works hand-in-hand with farmers, ranchers and forest landowners to improve and protect soil, water and other natural resources. Born out of the Dust Bowl days, focusing on soil conservation, NRCS has evolved our approach to helping customers meet all the needs of their land.
In Georgia today, we have offices that cover all 159 counties, which work with local conservation districts and other partners to serve landowners in their area. NRCS has worked with producers all over the state to develop conservation systems that help deliver the right amount of water, at the right time to maximize yields while reducing inputs and runoff.
As a result of this WaterSmart campaign, you are probably familiar with some of the advanced technology and management approaches being used today to achieve this ideal scenario. One classic case of our services and programs in action is when our customers use efficient irrigation systems, such as low-pressure drop nozzles, or calibrated high-pressure systems, when necessary. The goal in either case is to make sure the water applied is hitting its target and not being lost to drift or runoff.
To compliment the efficient application of water, a conservation tillage system is recommended to allow for better capturing of water when applied. We realize this isn’t always possible in some cropping systems, but healthy (often covered) soils can act like a sponge that keeps water in the soil profile so it can be available to the crops for a longer period.
To see some of these WaterSmart conservation practices in action, you can view our Conservation at Work video series on the USDA-NRCS YouTube Channel. A sampling of some WaterSmart practices and management approaches are:
· Residue and Tillage Management (No Till)
To learn more about USDA programs and services that are available, such as the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), among others, or to connect with your local USDA Service Center, please visit Farmers.gov.
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